Bad break for Oldham half-back

Photo: PICTURE: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

DANNY Whitmore attempts to halt a Gateshead Thunder attack, moments before he suffered a broken arm.

Oldham Rugby’s loan half-back Danny Whitmore broke his right arm in the first few minutes of Sunday’s 54-16 win against Gateshead Thunder at Whitebank.

Though he was in a lot of pain when he left the field after only 10 minutes, the initial prognosis didn’t pick up the full extent of the injury.

He was taken to hospital for “precautionary” x-rays and with coach Scott Naylor suggesting he might be okay to play this weekend — but left casualty with the arm in plaster and an appointment at a fracture clinic, with a long playing absence likely.

Whitmore, at Whitebank on a month’s loan from Batley Bulldogs, would have been eligible for two more games for Oldham — this Sunday's visit of London Skolars and next week’s trip to Wrexham.

Coach Scott Naylor was hoping Batley would agree to extend the loan, but the player now faces up to six weeks out of action.

Whitmore said: “Gateshead had just scored their first try. They came roaring back at us down the slope. I went in to smash one of their big forwards and came off worst. I copped his elbow on my forearm.

“I carried on for a few minutes, but then I had to go off. It’s just one of those things, it's the nature of the game.

“Perhaps I could come back to Oldham at a later date. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton confirmed the end of his loan period: “It's a blow for Danny and for the club because he did very well for us.

“I’ve spoken to Scott Naylor and we will see if there is anyone else knocking about to bring in.”